Heirloom Globe Artichoke
Colorado Red Star is an heirloom artichoke that rewrites the rules for growing this traditionally difficult crop. Unlike standard artichokes that demand two years or a cold period to produce, this variety develops full, globe-shaped heads in a single season from seed with just 10 days of cool weather. The bracts shift from purplish-green to dramatic plum strokes, creating heads that are as beautiful on the plant as they are on the plate. Hardy in zones 6-11 and grown as an annual across a wide range of climates, it opens artichoke growing to gardeners who thought it was beyond their reach.
Full Sun
Moderate
6-11
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
High
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The real breakthrough here is the breeding work behind Colorado Red Star, which solved one of gardening's most stubborn problems. Breeder Keith Mayberry developed this to flower in its first year without the lengthy vernalization period that made traditional artichokes impractical for most home gardeners. The striking color contrasts and perfect globe form give you both yield and ornament, while the ability to grow it as an annual from seed means you're not locked into perennial beds or complex cold-treatment protocols.
Colorado Red Star artichokes are harvested for their edible flower buds, prepared fresh or steamed. The tender hearts are prized for their sweet, mild flavor, and the artichokes work beautifully in Mediterranean and Italian cooking, where they're featured in risottos, pasta dishes, and vegetable gratins. Home gardeners grow them for their ornamental appeal as much as their culinary value, using the striking burgundy-and-green globes as focal points in vegetable gardens.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds at 70 degrees Fahrenheit in moist seed-starting mix, keeping them in consistent warmth to germinate within 10-14 days. Once seedlings emerge, provide bright light and cooler nights (around 60-65 degrees) to prevent leggy growth.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 18 inches apart in full sun. Handle seedlings gently to minimize root disturbance.
Cut artichoke buds when they reach full size but before the bracts begin to loosen or spread open. The head should feel firm and dense when squeezed gently. Harvest in the morning when temperatures are cool for best quality. Cut the stem 1-2 inches below the bud with a sharp knife. Side shoots will often develop after the main head is removed, providing a second flush of smaller artichokes.
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“Colorado Red Star's story begins with Keith Mayberry, a breeder who tackled a fundamental problem in artichoke horticulture. Artichokes have historically required either two full years or a period of artificial cold vernalization to produce heads, a barrier that kept them off most home garden lists. Mayberry's work resulted in the Imperial Star, a variety that could produce in the first year with minimal cool weather. Colorado Red Star emerged from this lineage of innovation, representing a watershed moment in making artichokes accessible to gardeners outside Mediterranean climates or those willing to wait years for a harvest.”